Talladega College is championship bound.

The Tornadoes closed the game on a dominant fourth-quarter run to secure a thrilling 53-51 victory over Wiley University in the semifinal round of the Hope Credit Union HBCU Athletic Conference Tournament on Saturday afternoon.

After falling behind 18-8 in the opening quarter, Talladega regrouped and steadily chipped away at the deficit. The Tornadoes trimmed the margin to six at halftime (28-22) and stayed within striking distance through three quarters, trailing 40-33 entering the final period.

The fourth quarter belonged to Talladega.

The Tornadoes outscored Wiley 20-11 in the final 10 minutes, locking in defensively and dominating the boards down the stretch. Ceara Myers delivered a standout performance with 18 points and a game-high 20 rebounds, controlling the paint on both ends of the floor. Talladega finished with a commanding 59-49 advantage on the glass, including 18 offensive rebounds.

Olympia Chaney added 17 points and six rebounds, while Teanna Watts contributed 11 points, six boards, and three assists. Kiersten Usher provided a major defensive spark with nine rebounds and seven steals, helping Talladega force 20 Wiley turnovers.

The Tornado defense held Wiley to just 26.7 percent shooting from the floor, including 3-of-21 from beyond the arc. In a tightly contested semifinal matchup, it was Talladega's defensive intensity and rebounding dominance that proved to be the difference.

With the win, the Tornadoes improve to 17-8 overall and advance to the HBCUAC Tournament Championship Game.